Fourth Lateran Council

The Fourth Lateran Council was the most important council of the Middle Ages. It was was convoked by Pope Innocent III with the papal bull Vineam domini Sabaoth of 19 April 1213 and held in November 1215 in the Roman Lateran. Due to the great length of time between the Council's convocation and meeting, many bishops had the opportunity to attend. It is considered by the Catholic Church to have been the twelfth ecumenical council and is sometimes called the "Great Council" or "General Council of Lateran" due to the presence of 71 patriarchs and metropolitan bishops, 412 bishops, 900 abbots and priors together with representatives of several monarchs.